With another three games slate in the NBA Playoffs, I’ve added two first basket wagers that you’ll want to consider!
Follow along and make sure to check out our NBA First Basket Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for help identifying all of today's best prop bets.
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Monday’s Best NBA First Basket Scorers
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Who will score the first basket in today's NBA games? We compare historical first-basket stats to prop bet odds to help identify today's best bets. View first-basket odds across sportsbooks here.
Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons
Wendell Carter Jr. won every opening tip against Jalen Duren in the regular season. Carter Jr. has been just as consistent in the playoffs, too. Carter Jr. won the tip in Game 3, and Desmond Bane scored immediately after.
Ultimately, the Pistons allowed the first basket to small forwards 26% of the time and power forwards 21% of the time. I’ve been targeting Franz Wagner throughout the series. He scored only four first baskets in 32 regular-season starts, but he still took the first field goal attempt in 25% of games when on the floor. He’s a sneaky play, especially at +650.
Pick: Franz Wagner (+650)
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns
Mark Williams was already ruled out of Game 4 in the NBA Playoffs due to a foot injury. That means Oso Ighodaro will compete for the opening tip. He’s not nearly as effective in the opening tip when compared to Williams.
In fact, Chet Holmgren won the opening tip against Ighodoro in Game 3, and the Thunder ended up scoring first.
Phoenix has allowed the first basket to power forwards 29% of the time and point guards 24% of the time. Chet Holmgren led the Thunder in first baskets after adding 11 first baskets in 69 starts in the regular season. He took the first field goal 22% of the time for the Thunder this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the team’s best scorer, but despite scoring first in Game 3, he rarely looks for the first shot of the game.
Let’s ride with Holmgren.
Pick: Chet Holmgren (+650)
